Door hinges with combination hold-open,cushioning,and assist means



Dec. 29, 1970 J. H. MARCHIONE 3,550,185

DOOR HINGES WITH COMBINATION HOLD-OPEN,

CUSHIONING, AND ASSIST MEANS Filed Jan. 21, 1969 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1

INVENTOR: JOSEPH H. MARCHIONE 7 2 AHornev J. H. MARCHIONE DOOR HINGESWITH COMBINATION HOLD-OPEN,

Dec. 29, 1970 CUSHIONING, AND ASSIST MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.21, 1969 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. MARCHIONE Dec. 29, 1970 J. H. MARCHIONE3,550,185

DOOR HINGES WITH COMBINATION HOLD-OPEN,

GUSHIONING, AND ASSIST MEANS 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 21, 1969INVENTOR:

JOSEPH H. MARCHIONE United States Patent 3,550,185 DOOR HINGES WITHCOMBINATION HOLD-OPEN, CUSHIONING, AND ASSIST MEANS Joseph H. Marchione,Rockford, Ill., assignor to Atwood Vacuum Machine Company, Rockford,111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 792,358

Int. Cl. E05d 11/10 US. Cl. 16145 31 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe hinge has two scalloped rollers as strikers mounted in spacedrelation each on a vertical pin for rotation relative to one plate ofthe hinge, the other plate carrying a vertical torsion bar with one endbent in a semi-circle to provide a laterally extending arm with asubstantially vertical detent portion projecting from its outer end,which is supported on the plate independently of the other plate so asto maintain a preload spring tension, the detent portion being disposedin the path of arcuate movement of the striker rollerss and movablerelative to the torsion bar by deflection of said arm by said rollers ina direction to increase the spring tension in said bar when said rollerscome into engagement with said detent in the door opening and closingmovement of the door for a holdopen action in half-open and fully openedposition, the scalloped periphery of the rollers causing the detent todrop into a scallop upon each engagement, thereby forcing the roller toturn through a certain angularity in each movement of the rollers pastthe detent. There is friction means resisting turning of the rollers sothat the same scallop is engaged by the detent in each operation in thedoor opening and closing operation until each roller is turned to a newposition. In addition, the same detent, in one form, carries a roller,which, in the closing of the door rides up on a cam for increase overpreload tension in the torsion bar for both door cushioning action inthe closing and assist action in the opening of the door.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile door hinges, and,more particularly, improvements on the disclosure of my Patent3,370,317, namely, the provision in cage-type hinges of novel torsionbar means designed to give not only a thoroughly reliable hold-openaction in the fully and partially opened positions of the door, but, inaddition, door cushioning action in closing and an assist action inopening, such assist action being especial ly important in doorsdesigned to have an upward swing as they are opened as it is importantin such cases to keep the opening effort to a minimum.

In accordance with my invention, a torsion type spring bar or rod ofgenerally S or C-shape has a detent defined by one vertical end portionon one radius arm entered in a hole in one side of the door half of thehinge and another detent defined by the other vertical end portion onthe other radius arm at the other end entered in a slot or recess in theother side of said hinge member in such a way that a torsional stress ispreloaded therein in the mounting thereof on said hinge member, themounting being such that the bar is securely locked against verticaldisplacement and therefore cannot shift out of operative relationship toone striker means mounted on the body half of the hingefor hold-openpurposes along with another striker means for the door cushioning andassist purposes, the spring tension present in the torsion bar for thelatter purposes throughout theperiod of the door being closed servingincidentally to eliminate door rattle.

The striker means for door hold-open purposes which is herein disclosedas a roller or rollers is arranged to deflect a detent projection on themovable end of the ice torsion bar against the preload as the doorswings relative to this roller or rollers, the interengaging detent androller parts being so arranged that considerably less effort is requiredfor the roller means to deflect and pass the detent in the door openingmovement than is required for the roller means to deflect and pass thedetent in the opposite direction in the door closing movement. A rollermounted on the detent in one of three forms cooperates with an elongatedcam in a lower plane than/first named rollers to effect the cushioningaction in closing and a corresponding door assist action in opening. Intwo other forms, the detent itself rides up onto an additional roller togive the cushioning action in closing and the assist action in opening.In all cases, the added functions are obtained without detriment to thehold-open function.

In all three forms I provide scalloped or so-called star rollers, thescallops on the rollers periphery being so close together as to becertain of a scallop seating on contact with the detent in the firstoperation in the event there is not direct alignment of a scallop withthe detent beforehand, and the scallop thereafter insuring that theroller will be forced to turn with the relative door movement under allsorts of operating conditions, such as ice, rust, abrasives, andwhatever might otherwise tend to cause the roller to stick or freeze andcould otherwise cause malfunctioning or noisy operation. A wavy springwasher is preferably employed for friction purposes in connection witheach roller to prevent its spinning freely after the detent has passedit, thus reducing likelihood of a scallop not being properly alignedwith the detent on the next operation of the door.

In all three forms the detent portion of the torsion bar derives lateralbearing support by engagement with the sides of the slot, therebypreventing over-stressing and work hardening, which could cause the barto fail to operate properly by assuming a set condition more or lessbackward away from its normal roller contacting position.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in lieu of the metallicrollers in the door cushioning and assist means engaged by the detent onone end of the torsion bar, rollers made at least partially of resilientcompressable material having the desired degree of compressability foreach installation, to provide only as much springback or kickback asrequired, both the torsion bar and the cooperating part made of thismaterial participating in the cushioning action and assist action,instead of confining it all to the torsion bar.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cage type hinge embodying the improvements ofmy invention, the parts being shown in What corresponds to the closedposition of the automobile door;

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1, looking up, in order to better show thecam with which a roller on the detent portion of the torsion barcooperates for the door cushioning and assist action;

FIG. 3 is a detail on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, a plan view and side view of anothercage type hinge embodying the improvements of my invention, in which, inlieu of the cam shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for door cushioning and assistaction, an additional scalloped or so-called star roller is providedcooperating directly with a detent on a radius arm on one end of thetorsion bar for these two new functions;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, to betterillustrate the functioning of this additional scalloped or star roller;

FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 5 of still another cage type hingeembodying the improvements of my invention, this figure showing theadditional or third roller of larger diameter cooperating directly withthe same detent on one radius arm for the door cushioning and assistfunctions that cooperates directly with the two other smaller scallopedor star rollers for the hold-open function, and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views of rollers similar to the large metallic oneshown in FIG. 8, but made so as to be compressable and resilient to adesired degree so that in both the cushioning action and assist actionthe roller participates by virtue of its radial give and kickback,instead of confining all of the spring action to the torsion bar.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe views.

Referring to the drawings, and at first mainly to FIGS. 1 to 4, thereference numeral designates the outer or body half of a cage type hingeto which the inner or door half 12 is pivotally connected by means of apintle 13. The hinge members 11 and 12 are both of formed sheet metalconstruction, member 11 having bolt holes 14 therein for reception ofbolts for fastening it to the body, and member 12 having bolt holes 15therein for reception of bolts to fasten it to the door. Both are hingemembers of generally channel shaped cross-section, the body member 11having the top wall extension 16 on the outer end of which are rotatablymounted the metallic scalloped or star rollers 17 and 18 at apredetermined radius with respect to the downwardly bent detent endportion 19 of the upper radius arm 20 of the metallic torsion bar 21 todeflect the arm 20 when detent 19 engages each of these rollers andpasses the same at mid-open position and nearly fully opened positionfor the hold-open function, similarly as described in my Pat. No.3,370,317, mentioned before. It is on the flanges 22 and 23 of theL-shaped inner hinge member 12 that the torsion bar 21 is mounted andbearings 24 are provided for the pintle 13. Vertically aligned notches25 in the edges of flanges 22 and 23 have the intermediate verticalportion of the torsion bar 21 received therein. The upwardly bent detentend portion 26 of the lower radius arm 27 of the torsion bar, inassembling the latter on the inner hinge member 12, is first enteredthrough a hole 28 in the lower flange 23 and moved upwardly enough forthe downwardly bent detent end portion 19 of the upper arm 20 to beclear of the upper flange 22 so that it can be cranked into positionover and entered in the circular recess 29 provided in the outside offlange 22, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, hereby preloading the torsion barand at the same time locking the torsion bar in assembled relationshipto the inner hinge member as the upwardly bent detent end portion 26 ofthe lower arm 27 becomes disengaged from the hole 28 and is lodged inthe annular recess 30 next to hole 28 as appears in FIG. 2. Theoperating clearance for the detent 19 of arm 20 in the larger radiusdepression 29 is, of course, suflicient for the arm 20 to oscillate asit will with detent 19 riding upon and over the rollers 17 and 18 withincrease over the preload spring tension, and, as can easily be seen inFIG. 2, the angle of the arm 20 with respect to the rollers 17 and 18 issuch that there is much less resistance to opening of the door than toits closing. The torsion bar 21 is bent from high carbon steel round barstock with the lower radius arm 27 normally at an angle relative to theupper radius arm 20 as indicated by the dotted line a-b in FIG. 2, whichis merely illustrative of an angle and not intended to represent thespecific angle required, as that might be larger or smaller than the oneshown, depending on the requirements of the hinge so far as its preloadspring tension is concerned. The torsion bar is heat treated beforeassem y on the inner hinge member 12, and, in the assembling operationpreviously described, the upper radius arm 20 is twisted with respect tothe intermediate portion of the torsion bar to preload the latter to thedesired extent and at the same time make it a permanently assembled partof the inner hinge member 12 while still permitting a limited amount ofspring restrained oscillation of the upper radius arm 20 as required forthe hold-open action, the downwardly bent detent end portion 19 engagingin one of the scallops of each of the rollers 17 and 18 as the rollerengages this detent and moves past it, the roller in each such operationbeing turned through a small angle locking the door in the mid-positionat roller 17 and in the fully opened position at roller 18, a smallamount of latitude for door swinging movement being left in both ofthese positions, a greater amount of free movement being usuallyprovided for in front doors than in rear doors. A wavy spring washer wcompressed against the top of each of the rollers 17 and 18 serves tohold them frictionally against turning after the detent end portion 19of arm 20 has passed the same in either direction, so the same scallopis used in each operation.

Coming now to the improvements of the present invention, the downwardlybent detent end portion 19 of the upper radius arm 20 has a roller 31assembled thereon and caged between the flange 22 of the inner hingemember 12 and an eyebrow projection 32 struck from the detent 19, sothat the roller is always in the same plane with an elongated cam 33that is secured, as at 34, to the extension 16, as shown in FIG. 2, sothat its profiled elongated edge 35 on that side toward the roller 31 isin a plane below that of the rollers 17 and 18 to ride on the roller 31,whereas the detent 19 on the torsion bar is arranged to ride on theroller 17 and 18. As can be seen in FIG. 2, showing the hinged membersin closed position, the rounded end 35 of the cam edge has deflected theradius arm 20 of the torsion bar by engagement with roller 31 on detent19, thereby accomplishing three things never heretofore to my knowledgeaccomplished with a torsion bar in a door hinge:

1) Cushioning of the door closing movement to prevent slamming;

(2) Providing a corresponding amount of assist action in opening of thedoor, and

(3) Eliminating rattle of the door by virtue of the fact that the doorand its latch in closed position is maintained under a predeterminedamount of spring tension toward opening.

In passing, it will be seen that the roller 31 has a sintered bronzebushing 36 provided therein for a self-lubricating bearing on the detentend portion 19 of the torsion bar, for longer life and quieteroperation.

In operation, the moment the door handle is operated for opening thedoor, the spring pressure of the torsion bar effective on roller 31bearing on the cam edge 35 causes the door to pop open for the assistaction, and thereafter, when the detent end portion '19 of the torsionbar encounters the roller '17 at the mid-open position there is onehold-open action and again when it encounters the other roller 18 at thefully opened position for the other hold-open action, and, it goeswithout saying, that in the closing of the door, the torsion bar againthrough the engagement of roller 31 on cam edge 35 gives the doorcushioning action, and so long as the door remains closed, ananti-rattle eflect is obtained by reason of the spring tension in thetorsion bar acting against the cam 33. It is clear from this descriptionthat the added functions described are obtained without in any wayinterfering with the hold-open function.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 to 7, the outer and inner hinge members 11aand 12a correspond to the outer and inner members of the first mentionedhinge and having a corresponding pintle 13a, and corresponding metallicscalloped or star rollers 17a and 18a that cooperate in a similar mannerwith the downwardly projecting inlet end portion 19a of the upper radiusarm 20a of the C-shaped torsion bar 21a to give hold-open action inmid-open and fully opened positions of the door. However, in thisconstruction the upwardly bent detent end portion 26a of the lowerradius arm 27a is notched out on one side, as indicated at 37, to engagethe edge 38 of the lower flange 23a of the inner hinge member 12a tohold the torsion bar against endwise displacement with respect to theinner hinge member 12a at such time that the detent end portion 26:: ofthe lower radius arm 27a of the torsion bar is not engaging the thirdscalloped or sta rroller 33a, which in this form performs a similarfunction as the cam 33 in the first form, namely, that of cushioning thedoor closing by deflection of the lower radius arm 27a of the torsionbar as the door is closed, and, in the opening of the door, give acorresponding assist action as the lower radius arm 27a in the openingof the door moves toward the edge 38 of the lower flange 23a, whichcenters the notch 37 to lock the torsion bar positively against endwisedisplacement. It is obvious in FIG. 6 that the notched portion 37 of thetorsion bar does not engage in the scallops of the roller 33a and hencethe reliance is upon the tight frictional engagement of the detent endportion 26a in the scallop of the roller to resist endwise displacementof the torsion bar from its normal operative position. The upper detentend portion 19a of the torsion bar extends through the slot 29a in theupper flange 22a of the inner hinge member 12a where it has ampleoperating clearance in relation to the amount of deflection of theradius arm a in riding of detent 19a over rollers 17a and 18a for thedoor hold-open functions.

In operation, all three metallic rollers 17a, 18a and 33a, which aremounted on pins under heads 38 with wavy spring washers w compressedbetween the heads and the rollers, so that the rollers turn againstfrictional resistance only as far as required to perform theirfunctions, provide with roller 33: a door cushioning action in theclosing of the door by reason of the deflection of the radius arm 27a tothe extent seen in FIG. 7, and thereafter, in the unlatching of the doorthere is an assist action causing the door to pop open the instant thehandle is operated to release the latch. After that, there is theholding action afforded by roller 17a cooperating with the detent 19a onupper radius arm 2011 at the mid-open position, and a further hold-openaction at the fully opened position is afforded by roller 18acooperating with the same detent. It requires more effort to close thedoor than to open it due to the angle of the upper radius arm 20a inrelation to rollers 17a and 18a being more favorable in the openingdirection than in the closing direction, as should be obvious from FIG.5.

Referring next to FIG. 8, showing the third form, th generally S-shapedtorsion bar 2112 mounted on the inner hinge member 12b has the detent19b on its upper radius arm 20b arranged to cooperate with the threerollers 17b, 18b, and 33b, all mounted on the upper flange of the outerhinge member 11b, the downwardly bent detent end portion 19b of theupper arm 2012, having ample clearance in the slot 2% in the upperflange, to allow for the amount of oscillation of the radius arm 20binvolved in its detent 19b riding up on the large roller 33b almost to adead-center position in cushioning the door closing movement, and, ofcourse, also in riding off the roller in the opening of the door to givethe assist action, the parts being shown with the door in fully closedPOSI- tion. The clearance for detent 19b in the slot 2% is, of course,also ample in respect to the amount of oscillation involved with radiusarm 20b in the detent19b riding onto and over rollers 17b and 18b in themid-open position and fully-opened position, respectively, for theholdopen function. As indicated best by the dotted triangle, the roller33b does not reach a dead-center relationship to the torsion bar in theclosing of the door, so as soon as the door is unlatched there is springpressure of the torsion bar available to start the assist action, thisspring pressure asserting itself with increasing force through the smallangle in which the detent end portion 19b rides on the periphery of theroller 33b.

The operation of this form is believed to be clear from the descriptionof the form of FIGS. 5 to 7, which is closely similar in construction.

Referring next to FIGS. 9 and 10, showing rollers 33c and 33d similar insize and shape to the metallic one 33b, the roller 33c is substantiallyentirely of resilient plastic material, save for a metallic bearingsleeve 40 provided at the center thereof, while the roller 33d is ofresilient plastic material between the metallic sleeve 40 provided atthe center for bearing purposes and the flexible thin metalliccorrugated ring 41 provided on the periphery for cooperation with detent19b. Obviously, with rollers like these there will be radial compressionof the roller as the detent end portion 19b of the upper radius arm 20brides upon the periphery of either of these rollers to give thecushioning action in the closing of the door and the subsequent assistaction when the door is unlatched to swing open, with this importantdifference in relation to the functioning of the metallic roller 33b inFIG. 8, that the springback or kickback is participated in both by thetorsion bar and the roller, and, accordingly, I may with differentplastic material having different give and resilience, obtain operatingcharacteristics better tailored to the needs of a given weight door thanwould be obtainable otherwise with all of the spring action centered inthe torsion bar itself.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

In another form the same detent rides up onto but short of dead-centeron a third and larger scalloped roller at the point of door closing tocushion the closing and assist the opening.

In a third form, a second detent on the other end of the torsion barcooperates with a third scalloped roller for door cushioning in closingand assist action in opening.

I claim:

1. In a hinge comprising a pair of pivotally connected members, one ofwhich is adapted to be secured to a body and the other to a doorswingable to and from open position relative to the body about asubstantially vertical axis, the improvement which consists in theprovision of an elongated substantially vertical torsion bar mounted onone of said members with a preload spring tension therein, the barhaving a laterally extending radius arm on one end with a substantiallyvertical detent portion projecting from its outer end, said torsion barbeing supported on said one member independentlyof the other member soas to maintain the preload spring tension therein and said radius armbeing movable relative to said torsion bar member by deflection of saidarm in a direction to increase the spring tension in said bar, a strikermounted on and projecting from the other of said members so that itcomes into engagement with the detent to deflect said arm to increasesaid spring tension in said bar above preload spring tension and go pastsaid detent in the door opening and colsing movements of the membersrelativeto one another for a hold-open action, and a second strikermounted on and projecting from the same member with the first striker sothat it comes into engagement with the detent in a predetermined rangeshort of the closed position of the door to again deflect said arm toincrease said spring tension above preload spring tension in the doorclosing movement of the members relative to one another to cushion thedoor closing movement and give the door an assist action in its openingv 2. A hinge structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radius armcarrying the detent is disposed at such an angle in relation to thestriker that a greater force is required to deflect said arm byengagement of the striker on the detent in a door closing direction thanin a door opening direction.

3. A hinge structure as set forth in claim 1, including a third strikermounted on and projecting from the same member as the first mentionedstrikers so that it comes into engagement with the detent on saidtorsion bar radius arm to hold the door open in an intermediateposition.

4. A hinge structure as set forth in claim 1, including a third strikermounted on and projecting from the same member as the first mentionedstrikers so that it comes into engagement with the detent on saidtorsion bar radius arm to hold the door open in an intermediateposition, the first and third strikers being spaced relative to oneanother to predetermine the extent of freedom of movement of the doorbetween the intermediate hold-open position and substantially fullyopened hold-open position.

5. In a hinge comprising a pair of pivotally connected members, one ofwhich is adapted to be secured to a body and the other to a doorswingable to and from open position relative to the body about asubstantially vertical axis, the improvement which consists in theprovision of an enlongated substantially vertical torsion bar mounted onone of said members with a preload spring tension therein, said barhaving laterally extending radius arms at opposite ends, each with asubstantially vertical detent portion projecting from its outer end,said torsion bar being supported on said one member independently of theother member so as to maintain the preload spring tension therein andsaid radius arms being movable relative to said torsion bar member bydeflection of either arm in a direction to increase the spring tensionin said bar, a first striker mounted on and projecting from the secondone of said members so that it comes into engagement with the first oneof said detents to deflect the first one of said radius arms to increasespring tension in said torsion bar above preload spring tension and gopast said first detent in the door opening and closing movements of themembers relative to one another for a hold-open action, and a secondstriker on the same member with the first striker projecting therefromso that it comes into engagement with the second one of said detents, inthe door closing movements of said members relative to one another todeflect the second one of said radius arms to increase spring tension insaid torsion bar above preload spring tension for a door cushioningaction in closing and an assist action in opening.

6. A hinge srtucture as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first radiusarm carrying the first detent is disposed at such an angle in relationto the first striker that a greater force is required to deflect saidarm by engagement of the striker on the detent in a door closingdirection than in a door opening direction.

7. A hinge structure as set forth in claim 5, including a third strikermounted on and projecting from the same member as the first mentionedstrikers so that it comes into engagement with the first detent on saidfisrt torsion bar radius arm to hold the door open in an intermediateposition.

8. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein bothstrikers are rotary rollers which have a non-skid surface on theperiphery thereof to insure taking hold on the detent upon engaging thesame and turn in passing the same.

9. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein thestriker is a rotary roller which has a nonskid surface on the peripherythereof to insure taking hold on the detent upon engaging the same andturn in passing the same.

10. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein thestriker is a rotary roller Which has a nonskid surface on the peripherythereof to insure taking hold on the detent upon engaging the same andturn in passing the same.

11. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein the firststriker is a rotary roller which has a scalloped periphery so that thedetent upon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, therebyforcing the roller to turn through a predetermined angularity in themovement of the roller caused by engagement with the detent.

12. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein the firststriker is a rotary roller which has a scalloped periphery so that thedetent upon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, therebyforcing the roller to turn through a predetermined angularity in themovement of the roller caused by engagement with the detent.

13. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein the firststriker is a rotary roller which has a scalloped periphery so that thedetent upon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, therebyforcing the roller to turn through a predetermined angularity in themovement of the roller past the detent, the construction including meansfrictionally resisting turning of the roller so as to insure properpositioning of the scallop engaged by the detent so that the samescallop is engaged by the detent in each operation in the door openingand closing movements.

14. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein the firststriker is a rotary roller which has a scalloped periphery so that thedetent upon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, therebyforcing the roller to turn through a predetermined angularity in themovement of the roller past the detent, the construction including meansfrictionally resisting turning of the roller so as to insure properpositioning of the scallop engaged by the detent so that the samescallop is engaged by the detent in each operation in the door openingand closing movements.

15. A door hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker is a rotary roller which has a scalloped periphery so that thedetent upon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, therebyforcing the roller to turn through a predetermined angularity in themovement of the roller caused by engagement with the detent.

16. A door hold-open construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein thetorsion bar has another laterally extending arm on the other endopposite the second detent carrying arm by means of which the torsionbar is adapted to be cranked for the preloading thereof, this additionalarm having a substantially vertical end portion having abutment with theplate in the assembled position of said bar on said plate to retain thepreload spring tension in said bar, said construction including walls onsaid plate in one of which a slot is provided in which the detent isengaged, the slot affording a predetermined latitude of deflection ofsaid first mentioned arm, the other Wall having an edge portion arrangedto engage in a notch provided in the vertical end portion of the otherarm whereby to hold the torsion bar against endwise. movement andaccordingly hold the detent end of the first mentioned arm in said slot.

17. A door hold-open construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein thetorsion bar has another laterally extending arm on the other endopposite the second detent carrying arm by means of which the torsionbar 15 adapted to be cranked for the preloading thereof, this additionalarm having a substantially vertical end portion having abutment with theplate in the assembled position of said bar on said plate to retain thepreload spring tension in said bar, said construction including walls onsaid plate in one of which a slot is provided in which the detent isengaged, the slot affording a predetermined latitude of deflection ofsaid first mentioned arm, the other wall having an edge portion arrangedto engage in a notch provided in the vertical end portion of the otherarm whereby to hold the torsion bar against endwise movement andaccordingly hold the detent end of the first mentioned arm in said slot,the construction including means frictionally resisting turning of theroller so as to insure proper positioning of the scallop engaged by thedetent so that the same scallop is engaged by the detent in eachoperation in the door opening and closing movements.

18. A door hold-open construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein thetorsion bar has another latera ly extending arm on the other endopposite the second detent carrying armby means of which the torsion baris adapted to be cranked for the preloading thereof, this additional armhaving a substantially vertical end portion having abutment with theplate in the assembled position of said bar on said plate to retain thepreload spring tension in said bar, said construction including walls onsaid plate in one of which a slot is provided in which the detent isengaged, the slot affording a predetermined latitude of deflection ofsaid first mentioned arm, the other wall having an edge portion arrangedto engage in a notch provided in the vertical end portion of the otherarm whereby to hold the torsion bar against endwise movement andaccordingly hold the detent end of the first mentioned arm in said slot,the construction including means frictionally resisting turning of theroller so as to insure proper positioning of the scallop engaged by thedetent so that the same scallop is engaged by the detent in eachoperation in the door opening and closing movements.

19. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a cam having an uphill surface up which the seconddetent rides in the final portion of the door closing movement for abovepreloading of said torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing andassist action in opening.

20. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a cam having an uphill surface up which a roller onthe second detent rides in the final portion of the door closingmovement for above preload loading of said torsion bar for doorcushioning action in closing and assist action in opening.

21. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening.

22. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent.

23. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent, at least a portion of saidroller being of compressible resilient material, whereby in the doorcushioning and assist actions the radial compression and expansion ofsaid roller accounts for a portion of the spring effect, the torsion baraccounting for the rest of it.

24. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent, a portion of said rollerbeing of compressible resilient material, whereby in the door cushioningand assist actions the radial compression and expansion of said rolleraccounts for a portion of the spring effect, the torsion bar accountingfor the rest of it, the scalloped peripheral portion of said rollerbeing defined by a scalloped metallic ring fixed to the rest of theroller.

25. In a hinge comprising a pair of pivotally connected members, one ofwhich is adapted to be secured to a body and the other to a doorswingable to and from open position relative to the body about asubstantially vertical axis, the improvement which consists in theprovision of an elongated substantially vertical torsion bar mounted onone of said members with a preload spring tension therein, the barhaving a laterally extending radius arm on one end with a substantiallyvertical detent portion projecting from its outer end, said torsion barbeing supported on said one member independently of the other member soas to maintain the preload spring tension therein and said radius armbeing movable relative to said torsion bar member by deflection of saidarm in a direction to increase the spring tension in said bar, and astriker mounted on and projecting from the other of said members so thatit comes into engagement with the detent as the door approaches closedposition to deflect said arm to increase said spring tension in said barabove preload spring tension to cushion the door closing movement andgive the door an assist action in its opening.

26. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25, wherein the strikercomprises a cam having an uphill surface up which the second detentrides in the final portion of the door closing movement for abovepreload loading of said torsion bar for door cushioning action inclosing and assist action in opening.

27. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25, wherein the secondstriker comprises a cam having an uphill surface up which a roller onthe second detent rides in the final portion of the door closingmovement for above preload loading of said torsion bar for doorcushioning action in closing and assist action in opening.

28. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25, wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening.

29. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25, wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent.

30. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25-, wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent, at least a portion of saidroller being of compressible resilient material, whereby in the doorcushioning and assist actions the radial compression and expan- 11 sionof said roller accounts for a portion of the spring effect, the torsionbar accounting for the rest of it.

31. A hinge construction as set forth in claim 25, wherein the secondstriker comprises a roller up the periphery of which the second detentrides to a position short of dead center relative to the roller in thefinal portion of the door closing movement for above preload loading ofsaid torsion bar for door cushioning action in closing and assist actionin opening, the roller having a scalloped periphery so that the detentupon engaging said periphery drops into a scallop, thereby forcing theroller to turn through a predetermined angularity in the movement of theroller caused by engagement with the detent, a portion of said rollerbeing of compressible resilient material, whereby in the door cushioningand assist actions the radial compression and expansion of said rolleraccounts for a portion of the spring effect, the

12 torsion bar accounting for the rest of it, the scalloped peripheralportion of said roller being defined by a scalloped metallic ring fixedto the rest of the roller.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,065,497 11/1962 Faber 16l423,371,374 3/1968 Marchione 16145 3,431,588 3/1969 Frey 16145 103,438,083 4/1969 Kirk 16145 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner P. A.ASCHENBRENNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 16-85

